"We depend on you to teach her," he said suavely. "You will go with us next week to Zelitz?"
The young man bowed uncertainly. His full lips smiled doubtfully. "It is an honor," he said, "but I must work. There is not time to lose. I must work." He moved his big head from side to side and twirled his fingers.
The count smiled genially.
"It shall be arranged—a little house by yourself, apart from the castle—a piano, absolute quiet, lessons only by your own arrangement." He spoke quietly, in the tone of a superior granting terms.
The thick lips opposite him were puckering a little, and the eyes behind the great spectacles blinked mistily.
"I must have time," repeated the little man—"time to think of it."
The count's face clouded a shade.
"We depend on you," he said. The tone had changed subtly. It was less assertive. "With the Baron von Schönstein—" he motioned toward his companion; the two young men bowed slightly—"with the baron we have a fine quartet, and with you to train us—oh, you must come!" His face broke into a winning smile.
The young man smiled in return.
"I will come," he said; "but—free," he added.